Burden of Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Following Periprosthetic Joint Infection Based on the Korean National...

This study aimed to document the epidemiology of revision total knee arthroplasty following periprosthetic joint infection (RTKA-f-PJI) in Korea between 2011 and 2019 and analyze the economic burden of RTKA-f-PJI.

Epidemiological data on RTKA-f-PJI in Korea between 2011 and 2019 were obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment database. The annual numbers and growth rates of entire RTKAs and RTKA-f-PJIs and the RTKA-f-PJI rate (RTKA-f-PJI / entire RTKAs) were determined. Subgroup analyses were performed according to sex and age. TKA failure was categorized into early and late failures, and RTKA-f-PJI rates were compared between the groups. The total and mean personal costs for each year were compared between the RTKA-f-PJI and RTKA-f-non-PJI groups.

Between 2011 and 2019, the total growth rate of RTKA-f-PJI was 57.6%, and the RTKA-f-PJI rate was maintained at approximately 30%. The RTKA-f-PJI rate was higher in males than in females. The number of RTKA-f-PJIs markedly increased in patients aged 70-79 years and ≥ 80 years. The RTKA-f-PJI rates for early and late failures were 45% and 24.8%, respectively. The total cost of RTKA-f-PJI increased from $15,757,308 in 2011 to $19,606,594 in 2019. The mean personal cost of RTKA-f-PJI was more than 4 times higher than that of RTKA-f-non-PJI.

The number and socioeconomic costs of RTKA-f-PJIs increased significantly in Korea between 2011 and 2019. Given that RTKA-f-PJI is a complex procedure associated with higher complication rates and unsatisfactory functional outcomes, continuous efforts to reduce the incidence of PJI after TKA are necessary.